Letter and package posting and distributing structure



Nov. 9 1926.

J. B HUDSON LETTER AND PACKAGE. POSTING AND DISTRIBUTING STRUCTURE FileNov. 8. 1922 u 2 Sheets-heet 1 INVENTOR TToRNEfi M m i:

Nov. 9 1926.

J. B.- HUDSQN LETTER AND PACKAGE POSTING AND DISTRIBUTING STRUCTUREFiled'Nov. s, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Patented l ter. o,

UNITE s'r s tat - some 13. HUDSON, or LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed November 8, 1922. Serial No. 599,710,

My invention relates to a structure which is adapted for use as acentral depository for a community not only for outgoing but also forincoming mail matter.

A structure of this character is adapted for use for thehandling of mailin any community, but it is particularly well adapted and suited to thehandling of mail -in rural communities and in small towns where it isimpractical to make a house to house delivery of mail.

The invention has for its object broadly to provide a compact and novelunitary structure for the reception of outgoing lettors and other mailmatter, and also means for the reception and distribution of mail matterfor and to the persons to whom it may he addressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel structurecomprising one or more compartments for the reception of outgoing mailmatter and a plurality of compartments associated therewith into whichincoming mail matter may be delivered or .distributed. v A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a novel construction of means forcontrolling the openings or slots by means of which letters and similarmail matter may be inserted into the compartments provided for thereception of incoming mail matter.

- Another object of the'inventio'n is to provide a novel-construction ofmeans intermediate a door for opening and closing the compartment intoWhlCll outgoing letters and similar mail matter are inserted and themeans for closing the openings or passageways through which letters andsimilar mail matter are inserted into the compartments for incomingletters and other mail matter whereby upon the opening and closing ofpassage- .Fig. 1 is a view in, front elevation of the structure providedwith and embodying-my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken .onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to thedrawings: 1 and 2 designate the opposite sides of thestructure, 3 the top thereof and 4 the bottom. Extending horizontallybetween the said front and rear walls of the structure are twohorizontally extending division plates or boards 5 and 6. Verticalvplates or boards 7 and 8 are provided in spaced parallel relation toeach other, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, which plates or hoardsextend between the top 3 and the horizontal divisional plate or board 6.The said plates 7 and 8 are situated in planes extending from front torear of the structure. Similar plates 10 are situated between the-plates5 and 6. The said plates 10 occupy the same planes as the plates orboards 7 and 8. The presence of the plates 7 and 8 and 10 which arearranged in parallel relation to the opposite sides 1 and 2 of thestructure divide the interior thereof into a pluralityof compartments,as shown. The central compartment 12 is adapted to receive outgoingletters. These letters may be deposited from both the front and the rearof the structure through openings 15 which are adapted to be closed bymeans of hinged doors 16 having chutes or guideways 17 projectinginwardly from the inner sides thereof. The weights of these chutes orguideways operate to retain the doors 16 in closed position. The upperedges of'the doors 16 underlie overhangingproj'ecting portions 18whereby the contents of the compartment or chamber 12 are protectedagainst the weather.

The large eonmartments between the vertieal plates or boards 7 and 8 and10 and the sides 1 and 2 are divided into divisional compartments by thehorizontally extending plates 20 and the vertical plates 21. It will beseen, therefore, that each of the large compartments between the plaies7 and 8 and the opposite sides 1 and 2'is divided into eight smallercompartments into which incoming letters or like mail matter may bedelivered by the postman or carrier. The

letters or other similar mail matter are adapted to be inserted into therespective compartments formed by the plates 7 8, 10, 20 and 21 throughslots 25. These slots are normally closed by means of narrow plates 30which project outwardly from slidable bars 31 situated in the cornersbetween the opposite ends of the plates 7 and 8 and the front and rearwalls of the structure. The outer ends of these plates are supported andguided in short vertical grooves 35 in .the inner edges of stationaryposts 36 which are situated in the angles at the four corners of thestructure. These posts 36 extend upwardly from the plate or board 5 topoints adjacent the top of the structure- The lower ends of the slidablebars 31 extend through openings 38, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, in the plate 5 and are supported and guided in passagewaysformed by the sides of notches 40 in the corners of the plates 20 andtheadjacent opposing surfaces of the exterior'of the angles at the cornersbetween the plates 7 and 8 and the front and rear walls of the 31 uponone side of each of the plates 7 and 8 may be regarded as constitutingcouples. Each of these bars 31 is provided with a lug 46 which isadapted to project through openings 47 in the plates 7 and 8 to therebyfacilitate the connection of the opposite ends of the bars or plates tothe said bars 31.

The compartment for the reception of outgoing letters and other similarmail matter is adapted to be opened and closed by a door 50 supportedupon a horizontal hinged pivot 51 at points slightly below thehorizontal plate 6 which constitutes the bottom of the compartment 12.The door 50 is provided with a lock 52 at its upper end by means ofwhich it may be held in closed position. The said door is provided atits opposite edges with inwardly extending flanges 53 which terminate attheir lower ends a short distance above the plate 6. The door 50 isprovided at its lower end with extensions 55 at its opposite edges whichextensions are provided with inwardly extending lugs 56 at their outeror lower ends. lVhen in closed position these projections or lugs 56occupy the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When, however, thedoor is open, as shown in Fig. 3, the lugs 56 project through openwardIl'lOVQHlGIlt causes U DVv'tIld lllOVQlllGIlt Of the bars 31 which inurn causes upward movement of the plates or doors 3O projectingoutwardly therefrom to open the slots 25 through which mail is insertedinto the compartments provided for the reception of if;

coming letters and other similar mail matter. -Upon return of the door50 into closed positionthe lower ends of the flanges 53 contact with theupper sides of the forward end portions of the inwardly extendingprojections 61 and depress the same together with the bars or plates 45and the slidable bars 31 connected. therewith. The downward movement ofthe bars 31 causes corresponding downward movementof the plates 30 toclose the slots or openings 25. It will be understood that the door 50is normally closed and that it may be opened only by a carrier or otherpostal employee having a key for the lock 52. It will also beobserved'that the slots or openings 25 are closed at all times exceptwhen the door 50 is opened and is then opened only for the purpose ofpermitting the postman or carrier to insert let-- ters .or other mailthrough the openings 2.) into the receiving compartments for incomingmail.

- It will have been noted that by the operation of the two bars orplates 45 the sev eral sets of plates 30 at the front and rear sides ofthe structure are actuated to open and close the slots or openings 25.

In order to provide means for locking or holding the door 50 inclose'dposition even though the hinge at 51 should be broken by some oneendeavoring to break into the compartments for outgoing mail matter forthe purpose of unlawfully taking .the same I have provided the flangeprojections 61 with openings 61 with which the projections 61 on thelower ends of the flanges 53 of said door are in engagement when thedoor is closed.

The compartments for the reception of incoming mail both at the frontand rear sides of the structure are provided respectively with hingeddoors 65 having: projections 66 through whichopenings are provided forthe reception of staples 67 which are adapted to be engaged by locks'68. To each person within the vicinity to whom mail is delivered bymeans of depositing it in. a compartment a particular compartment isassigned and to such person a key is given so that he or she may at anytime open the door 65 belongits I ing to his or her compartment for thepurpose of removing any mail which may have been placed therein.

For the purpose of providing suitable and convenient means for postingpackages I have provided a central compartment 7 0 formed between theplates 5 and 6 and the plates 10. Packages, such as papers, merchandise,and the like, to be posted may be placed within the compartment fromwhich they may be removed by the postman or carrier. For the purpose oftaking care of and facilitating the delivery of incoming papers,packages, and the like I have divided the space between the bottom 4 andhorizontal plate 5 into a number of compartments by means of a series ofvertical plates 71 extending from front to rear of the structure, andthe plates 72 extending at right angles thereto. The latter plate-sdivide the respective space between the plates 71 into two compartmentsor chambers, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These spaces orchambers are situated upon opposite sides of the respective plates 72.They are open at their, outer ends, as indicated. The vari-- ous doors 50 and 65 may be provided with tag or label holding means of any suitableconstruction for holding labels upon which such information asmay bedesired may be placed; e structure is also provided with compartments inwhichthe postal authorities may deposit'keys and the like which are not.

in use for safe keeping. These compartments are situated underneath adownwardlyand forwardly inclined plate 75 which is situated at the rearend portion of the compartment 12. A door 76 closes the opening 77 bywhich access is had to the compartment'und'erneath the plate 7 5. pThesecompartments are formed by the plates 77 and the horizontal plate 7 8secured to the upper ends of the plates 77 in conjunction with the'plate75. The forward ends of the plates77 are inclined downwardly andforwardly, as indicated at 78, so that the said ends fit within theangle formed between the plate 75 and the horizontal plate 6. It will beseen, there-'- fore, that the space 7.7 underneath the plate 75lsdivided into a couple of compartments, a centralcompartment betweenthe plates 7 7 f and a compartment above the plate78,

between the latter-and the'upper end portion of the plate 75. The door76 is adapted to be held in closed position by means of a lock 80.

It will be seen that by my invention I have latter for the delivery ofmail thereto are adapted tobe controlled. It will also be seen that bymyinvention I have provided a compact unitary structure whereby thehandling of the mail, both outgoing and incoming, for a-whole communitymay be effected at a singlepoint, and that such point may be situatedcentrally with respect to said community or at such place as may be edto be inserted thereinto, vertically arrangedslidable barssituatedadjacent the outer edges of the; inner sides of the said compartmentswhich bars are provided with outwardly extending plates which areadapted to open and close the said openings, hor1- zontallysituated barsextending from front to rear of the" said structure for connecting thesaid vertical bars in couples, a compartment for the reception .ofoutgoing mail mat-- ter, said compartment being provided with an openingthrough which such mail matter may be removed therefrom, and a door foropening and closing the said opening which door is provided withprojections extending from the lower edge which projections are adaptedto contact with the said horizontally extending bars for elevating thesame when the said door is open and the said door being provided withmeans on its inner side for contacting with portions of the saidhorizontally arranged barsto depress the same upon the closing of thesaid door.

2: In a letter and package posting and distributing structure, thecombination of a central compartment for the reception of outgoingletters, said compartment being provided with an opening through whichthe said letters are adapted to be removed and a compartment opened atboth ends for the reception of outgoing packages, compartments at thefront and rear of the said structure for the reception of incomingpapers and Y packages, compartments at the'front and rear of the saidstructure for the reception of incoming letters, the said compartmentsbeing provided with slot open ngs through which the said letters areadapted to be inserted thereinto and with openings through which thesaid letters are adapted to be removed, doors for the last mentionedopenings, vertically movable bars situated at the front and rear of thesaid structure at the front and rear ends of the inner sides of the saidcompartments for receiving incoming mail, which bars are provlded withoutwardly extending pro ections WhlCh are adapted to open and close theslot o-penings ing the opening through which letters are adapted to heremoved from the said compartment for receiving outgoing letters, whichdoor is provided with means for engaging the said horizontally arrangedbars for actuating the same to etiect vertical movements of the saidvertical slidable bars to open and close the slot openings leading intothe'compartments for incoming letters.

In a letter and package posting and distributing structure, thecombination of a tioned door and the doors for the said opencompartmentfor the reception of outgoing mail, compartments for receiving incomingmail, said compartments being provided with openings leading thereinto,doors for closing said openings, :1 door for opening and closing thecompartment for outgoing mail, means intermediate the said last meningswhereby the opening and closing 0 the door for the outgoing mailcompartment controls the opening and closing of the doors for thecompartments for incoming mail,

and means for interlocking the door of the compartment for outgoing mailwith the said intermediate means when the said door is in closedposition.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1- have hereuntosigned my name this 7th day of November, 1922.

' JOHN B. HUDSON.

